Last week we reported on the Carnival Vista cruise ship which arrived in Belize, with 26 crew reported to be in quarantine with COVID.
Today, we asked the Minister of Health and Wellness about a Covid patient from the Carnival Vista left behind in Belize.
A website called "Cruise Law News" alleges that a 77 year old retired Sunday School teacher, Marilyn Tackett was, quote, abandoned by Carnival in Belize in a private intensive care ward. She died from COVID days after returning to the U.S. She'd reportedly had two shots of the Pfizer vaccine.
So, Is Carnival dumping sick patients in Belize?:
Reporter
"A cruise visitor 79 year-old female who came to Belize on a Carnival Cruise was hospitalized here and then died when she returned by ambulance to the US. There is still a male patient from the US hospitalized in Belize, according to our reports he is in bad shape. Are cruise ships dumping COVID patients in Belize and exposing Belize unnecessarily to these dangerous variants?"
Hon. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
"I don't know that they are dumping them on Belize, but as a country, we have a humanitarian responsibility to render healthcare when possible. I know of the case with the female. Before she was brought on land, there were arrangements made with one of the private hospitals, the person had health insurance so we made sure that all of those were covered before she was allowed to come on land. But we must render humanitarian aid."
Reporter
"Is cabinet making any decisions in regards to the continued arrivals of cruise ships?"
Hon. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
"We continue to look at it and we continue to make sure that we have an ongoing discussion with the cruise lines to make sure that we have the safest protocols in place. I mean obviously there is never going to have a hundred percent in anything, but we try our best to make sure that we are as safe as we possibly can."
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